Dome Guard with Changeable Cover

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for aiding an athlete with heading a ball while protecting the head of the user participating in an athletic activity and in particular soccer players. Designed to resemble the surface of a player&#39;s head in structure and smoothness so as not to affect the trajectory of the ball during a header while at the same time absorbing the force from the impact to prevent or minimize concussions in players, especially younger athletes. 
     This present invention is designed with the intention to overcome the rigid guidelines of youth soccer leagues and organizations, and be approved for use in games. Its design does not provide an advantage or disadvantage to the user as it is constructed to replicate a player&#39;s unaided head. 
     The objective is that it feels like “second skin” so it will not affect the quality of movement or play.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/683,856 titled, “Dome Guard with Changeable Cover” filed Aug. 16, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to assist in teaching youth soccer players the techniques of properly heading soccer balls by providing a head gear that would minimize the impact/force from the ball. This is an invention that replicates the surface of a human head, secured by a stretchable fabric cover and hard, plastic dome guard lined with compressible foam underneath. The intention is to create a head gear that avoids the “helmet” description, cover mainly the portion of the user's head that are primarily used in heading a ball. The objective being that it feels like “second skin” as to not affect the quality of movement or play.

Currently, the options available for head protection gear in soccer are minimal and impractical. Similarly with head gear that aids in heading soccer balls.

In light of all the revelations regarding the long term effects of repetitive heading in soccer, there has not been a gear that has been fully utilized by many, if any, organized youth leagues. The present invention was designed to satisfy some or most of the concerns of leagues and organizations that players are not permitted to use any accessories (with some exceptions i.e., glasses) that are bulky, could snag, or catch on another player and interfere with safety and play.

The present invention would not have any visible, hard parts that could catch, snag, or possibly become a safety issue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The overall objective of this invention is to present a functional, marketable, and easily manufactured product, which many of the previous arts have yet to accomplish for soccer. The changeable cover with various colors and patterns should appeal to the youth players and encourage them to use the “Dome Guard” in the early stages of skill development.

Another object for the design of this invention is that it address some or most of the concerns of the various soccer leagues and organizations to be approved for use in games. The Dome Guard is designed to resemble the surface of the human head and would likely come close to replicating a header on an unprotected head. With the heightened awareness on long term implications of heading soccer balls, parents should have options.

Parents can then take some comfort that their players will have an option to use an aid in developing proper heading skills. In addition, it also is designed to absorb some or most of the impact from headers or collisions. As a parent of three soccer players, one currently in competitive soccer, “some protection is better than no protection at all”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of the plastic portion of the dome guard.

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of the foam portion of the dome guard.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of the cover as it would appear over the dome guard.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the layers of the dome guard.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of a slightly different version of the dome guard.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of a fuller version of the dome guard.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front, rear, top, and right lateral side of another version of the dome guard cover.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a sample pattern of air holes for the dome guard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The “Dome Guard with Changeable Cover” consists of two separate pieces that must be utilized together to function accordingly. The first piece is comprised of a two-layered, thin, lightweight plastic coupled to compressible foam or other material designed to absorb impact. It is then secured by the second piece, a stretchable fabric that covers the dome guard entirely and wraps around the user's head.

FIG. 1 Illustrates the hard plastic layer, or “shell” of the dome guard conforming to the entirety of the frontal region of the user's head and portions of the top, temporal, and parietal regions of the user's head from different angles, depicting how it would appear on a user's head. This plastic is hard, lightweight and thin; approximately 0.1 inches in thickness, which could be easily manufactured using an injection molded technique. Air holes could be added for improved breathability.

FIG. 2 Illustrates the shape of the compressible foam (such as a DENSE “visco-elastic” polyurethane foam) layer of the dome guard that would be affixed to the interior of the shell(seen in FIG. 1) by industrial strength adhesive, which could also have various air holes cut out into the foam. At some point, other materials that are designed to absorb impact could be used in its place, as it becomes available. The compressible foam should allow ease in conforming to the user's head and absorb force upon impact. The conforming nature of this foam will also minimize movement and help keep the dome guard in place. This single piece foam layer is approximately 0.5 inches thick, and could be thicker or thinner depending on the density of the foam being utilized. Furthermore, once pressed onto the user's head and secured by the cover, the foam should not compress entirely. This extra room for compression will be what absorbs the force from the headers.

FIG. 3 Illustrates the fabric outer covering, “Changeable Cover”, of the dome guard. This stretchable cover secures the dome guard in place. This illustration represents what the completed ensemble would look like with the dome guard underneath this cover. The dome guard should not be visible other than a slight bulge under the fabric. The intention is to be as lightweight as possible with minimal bulge or movement. As demonstrated by the illustration, the changeable cover could be made using various patterns and designs to appeal to youth players.

FIG. 4 An illustration of the dome guard layers. 02 is the stretchable fabric cover that would go over the dome guard to secure it to the wearer's head. The “Dome Guard” is a one piece plate that consists of two layers: 03, the plastic layer, and 04 is the compressible foam layer which is coupled together by industrial strength adhesive.

FIG. 5 Illustrates another version of the plastic dome portion as it could be shaped for improved stability and would also be secured by a stretchable fabric cover.

FIG. 6 Illustrates “fuller” version of the plastic portion of the dome guard that could be used for younger players with air holes for breathability.

FIG. 7 Illustrates a stretchable cover for the “fuller” version of the dome guard.

FIG. 8 An example of how the plastic portion of the dome guard could be made with various air holes, such as a mesh pattern for improved breathability using the hard, lightweight plastics, then covered by the stretchable fabric cover. The air hole patterns should not compromise the strength and structure of the plastic dome. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for aiding in skill development while protecting the head of a user participating in an athletic activity comprising: A multiple layered dome guard shaped to conform to the head of the user; And A means for securing the dome guard to the head of the user.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the means for securing the dome guard to the head of the user comprises of an elastic fabric disposed about the dome guard and user's head.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the multiple layered dome guard comprises: An outer plastic shell; and At least one layer of compressible foam.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 where the outer shell is approximately 0.05-0.25 inches in thickness.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 where at least one layer of compressible foam is approximately 0.25-1.5 inches in thickness.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 where the dome guard conforms to the entirety of the frontal region of the user's head and to the portions of the temporal and parietal regions of the user's head.
 7. An apparatus for protecting the head of an athlete comprising: An outer shell substantially conforming to the head of the athlete; A compressible foam coupled to the inner surface of the outer shell; and A means for securing the outer shell to the head of the athlete.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 where the means for securing the outer shell to the head of the athlete comprises an elastic fabric disposed about the outer shell and wrapped around the head of the user.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of air holes defined in the outer shell. 